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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Analysis: 626 of 754 students at Thornton Elementary School not on "college track" in 2021-22 school year

Commissioner of education mike morath 2023

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

Of the 754 students at Thornton Elementary School in Temple, 626 (83%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Centroplex News' analysis of test scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). To better understand these statistics, it's important to know what TSI (Texas Success Initiative) and CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) are, as they are key indicators of a student's readiness for post-secondary education or career paths.

Primary data on overall student readiness in Thornton Elementary School is derived from the TSI's assessments, which evaluate student capabilities in reading, writing, and mathematics. Certain students may qualify for exemptions from these assessments. In contrast, CCMR focuses on preparedness for life post-high school, factoring in TSI scores along with other criteria like dual credits, AP/IB exam results, and more, to provide insights into specific subject performance.

In the 2021-22 school year, Thornton Elementary School's student population was made up of 754 students, of which 65 were Hispanic, 34 White, 19 African American, six Multiracial, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 33% of Thornton Elementary School 11 Asian students, 26% (34) of its 134 white students, 16% (65) of its 411 Hispanic students, 14% (19) of its 140 African American students, and 12% of its 52 multiracial students had "mastered" their grade level in the 2021-22 school year and were "on track for college and career readiness," as measured by state academic standards.

The TEA says students who meet, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

In 2020-21, the TEA noted that 659 Thornton Elementary School students - equivalent to 91% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 83%, marking an 8% decrease from the previous year.

Despite an improvement after the pandemic, Texas students are still struggling to keep a good performance and reach grade level in schools. In the 2021-22 school year, nearly two-thirds (60%) of students were below grade level in math and 48% did not meet the standards in reading language and arts.

According to Chandra Villanueva, director of policy and advocacy for Every Texan, one of the main causes for this is bad funds management. "Your average homeowner is like, 'Look, I'm paying more and more every single year. Why are my schools still underfunded, overcrowded, my teachers underpaid? Obviously, the schools are doing a bad job with my money,'" she said in an interview. Currently, Texas residents pay more than $70 billion annually in taxes destined to public education.

Gov. Abbott has been calling not only for an end to the main school property tax, but to use public money to support private schools. The initiative is called universal private school choice and, if passed, would allow residents to use taxpayer money to pay for their kids' private education.

"School choice not only improves education for every kid and every parent who chooses that pathway," Abbott said at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16.

Students On and Off College Track by Race at Thornton Elementary School in 2021-22 School Year

050100150200250300HispanicAfrican AmericanWhiteMultiracialAsianAmerican Indian65653463461919121121343410010066464633880055On college trackNot on college track

Students on College Track by School in Temple ISD in 2021-22 School Year

SchoolTotal Students% On College Track
Bonham Middle School64375%
Cater Elementary School32184%
Fred W. Edwards Academy Aec7596%
Hector P. Garcia Elementary School39483%
Jefferson Elementary School51380%
Kennedy-Powell Elementary School40670%
Lamar Middle School53285%
Raye-Allen Elementary School50980%
Scott Elementary School45980%
Temple High School2,25487%
Thornton Elementary School75483%
Travis Science Academy63880%
Western Hills Elementary School42886%
Wheatley Alternative Education Center74100%
Source: Texas Education Agency.

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